Manitoba, P.E.I., Saskatchewan top Canada's most-charitable provinces

On a scale from generous to selfish, Manitoba is Canada’s most-charitable province, with Saskatchewan not too far behind.

The Fraser Institute published a report ranking Canada’s most charitable provinces and territories comparing them with the 50 American states. Looking at tax data from 2013 Manitoba topped all Canadian provinces and territories with 25.3 per cent of its tax base making charitable donations. New Brunswick held the lowest percentage among provinces with 20. Nunavut had the lowest percentage among the territories with 9.2 per cent.

Saskatchewan rounded out the top three Canadian provinces with 23.4 per cent of the tax population making charitable donations, however flat-landers placed sixth out of 13 when it came to the percentage of aggregate income donated to charity with just 0.59 per cent. Manitoba also topped the aggregate income donations with 0.81 per cent.

Alberta held the rank for the highest average donation at $2,372, while Saskatchewan’s average donation was recorded at $1,665. Quebec ranked last in this category with an average donation of $735.

Comparing Canada with the U.S., one-quarter of the tax population in America made charitable donations, compared to 21.8 per cent of Canadians. Maryland led all states with 38.3 per cent making charitable contribution with West Virginia coming in last with 12.6 per cent.

In the U.S., the average charitable donation came in at $5,342, more than three times more than the Canadian average donation of $1,574.

Overall the Fraser Institute reports charitable donations have been declining from 2005 to 2013 with Saskatchewan seeing the biggest dip of almost 14 per cent.